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Somerset and Gloucestershire badger culls 'ineffective'

THE badger culls carried out in parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire last year were not effective, according to an independent scientific assessment.

The Independent Expert Panel was appointed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to help ministers evaluate the effectiveness, humaneness and safety of the pilot culls.

They were carried out in an attempt to try and curb bovine tb in cattle.

Marksmen were supposed to kill at least 70% of badgers in each area over the six-week period.

However, in both areas, the target was not met resulting in an extension which also failed to kill the minimum number of badgers.

Less than half of the target badgers were killed in both areas over the six-week period according to BBC News.

A freedom by the Human Society Internation into a set of 'Complience Reports' from Natural England's badger cull monitors has also today revealed similar findings.

Joe Duckworth, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports said: “The reports reveal only what was happening when marksmen knew they were being watched - it simply doesn’t bear thinking about what might actually have been happening when they were not being monitored.

"Even on that basis, the results are clear, the badger cull fails on humaneness and effectiveness.

"Any plans for roll out go against all common sense, let alone science, and should be abandoned immediately.”

THE IEP report is yet to be officially published and presented to the government.

Comments

Quelle suprise.... however I fully expect DEFRA to ignore this and press on regardless, watch this space...

Quelle suprise.... however I fully expect DEFRA to ignore this and press on regardless, watch this space...Samej1

Quelle suprise.... however I fully expect DEFRA to ignore this and press on regardless, watch this space...

Score: 7

Mr_Opinionated
3:16pm Fri 28 Feb 14

In other news...... Bear have been discovered defecating in the woods!!!!!

In other news...... Bear have been discovered defecating in the woods!!!!!Mr_Opinionated

In other news...... Bear have been discovered defecating in the woods!!!!!

Score: 4

Hugo101
7:58pm Tue 4 Mar 14

Having a Trade Association like the NFU which represents only 18% of farmers consisting mainly of the large landowners, dictating wildfire solutions is rather like the National Union of Teachers (NUT) suddenly deciding that they will be an extra month’s holiday included in the summer break, starting this summer so schools out for ten plus weeks, as the NUT control the Education Department!

This would be barking mad, yet the NFU are doing just that with our wildlife and DEFRA!

Having a Trade Association like the NFU which represents only 18% of farmers consisting mainly of the large landowners, dictating wildfire solutions is rather like the National Union of Teachers (NUT) suddenly deciding that they will be an extra month’s holiday included in the summer break, starting this summer so schools out for ten plus weeks, as the NUT control the Education Department!
This would be barking mad, yet the NFU are doing just that with our wildlife and DEFRA!Hugo101

Having a Trade Association like the NFU which represents only 18% of farmers consisting mainly of the large landowners, dictating wildfire solutions is rather like the National Union of Teachers (NUT) suddenly deciding that they will be an extra month’s holiday included in the summer break, starting this summer so schools out for ten plus weeks, as the NUT control the Education Department!

This would be barking mad, yet the NFU are doing just that with our wildlife and DEFRA!

Ipsoregulated

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